June 19th, 2013
Today's
podcast briefly discusses the transition of the Qur'an from an oral message into a closed codex through political decisions of the community leaders after Muhammad's death. The episode also quickly highlights the difficulties that face modern historians who are trying to make sense of the history of the formation of the Qur'an.
Sources and Recommended Readings:
The Qur'an: a Beginner's Guide by Farid Esack
Major Themes of the Qur'an by Fazlur Rahman
The Koran: a Very Short Introduction by Michael Cook
The Cambridge Companion to the Qur'an by Jane McAuliffe (editor)
The Blackwell Companion to the Qur'an by Christopher Buck (editor)
The Qur'an: a New Translation by Tarif Khalidi
The Qur'an: an Introduction by Abdullah Saeed
The Qur'an in its Historical Setting by Gabriel Said Reynolds (editor)
Approaching the Qur'an: the Early Revelations by Michael Sells
La Pensée Arabe by Mohammed Arkoun
February 28th, 2013
Today's podcast provides an English translation of part of a conversation with the late professor Mohammed Arkoun (d. 2010) on Belgian TV*. For most of his prestigious academic career, Mohammed Arkoun was professor of the history of Islamic thought at the Sorbonne University in Paris, France. He also held teaching positions at a number of universities around the world. The following is a stimulating discussion about a variety of topics, having to do with religion, politics, and culture.
*The video of the whole interview in French can be found at http://www.rtbf.be/video/detail_noms-de-dieux?id=602121
October 27th, 2012
This episode takes a look at the history of Rai music outside Oran and its region. We pay particular attention to the Moroccan and French Rai musical scenes. The episode contains musical excerpts from Chebba Maria, Cheb Akil, Mohamed Lamine, Cheb Hassen, Reda Taliani, Cheb Mimoun, Rachid Berrieh, Cheb Kamal, Bouchnak Brothers, Talbi One, Cheb Kader, Faudel, Rachid Taha, and Cheb Hasni.
Sources and further reading:
Daoudi, B. & Miliani H. L'aventure du Raï
Drewett, M & Cloonan, M. Popular Music Censorship in Africa
Plastino, G. Mediterranean Mosaic: Popular Music and Global Sounds
Schade-Poulsen, M. Men and Popular Music in Algeria: The Social Significance of Raï
Virolle, M. La chanson Raï : De l'Algérie profonde à la scène internationale
October 19th, 2012
This episode presents some of the major Rai singers of the 1990's. We encounter Cheb Mami, Cheb Sahraoui, Chebba Fadela, Chebba Zahouania, Cheb Nasro, and Cheb Bilal. We pay particular attention to Cheb Hasni who was considered the King of Love Rai and who was assassinated in Oran during the Civil War of the 1990's. The episode contains musical excerpts from the singers above in addition to short selections from Cheb El Hindi and Cheb Abbes.
Sources and further reading:
Daoudi, B. & Miliani H. L'aventure du Raï
Drewett, M & Cloonan, M. Popular Music Censorship in Africa
Plastino, G. Mediterranean Mosaic: Popular Music and Global Sounds
Schade-Poulsen, M. Men and Popular Music in Algeria: The Social Significance of Raï
Virolle, M. La chanson Raï : De l'Algérie profonde à la scène internationale
October 13th, 2012
We continue looking at Rai Music. This episode presents the career of Khaled Hadj Brahim as emblematic in the way Pop-Rai develops from the 1970's to today. Cheb Khaled is arguably the best Rai singer of his generation. His impact on the direction and the success of this musical style cannot be underestimated. He is known as the King of Rai.
Sources and further reading:
Daoudi, B. & Miliani H. L'aventure du Raï
Drewett, M & Cloonan, M. Popular Music Censorship in Africa
Plastino, G. Mediterranean Mosaic: Popular Music and Global Sounds
Schade-Poulsen, M. Men and Popular Music in Algeria: The Social Significance of Raï
Virolle, M. La chanson Raï : De l'Algérie profonde à la scène internationale
September 22nd, 2012
We continue discussing the story of Rai Music. Among the topics of this episode are the influence of Algerian independence on the development of Rai, the rise of Pop-Rai in Wahrane in the 1970's, and the clash between the Islamist vision and the Rai scene during the civil war of the 1990's. The episode includes musical excerpts from Cheb Kader, Cheikha Remitti, Bouteldja Belkacem, Chebba Fadela, Cheikh Fethi, Chebba Zahouania, Cheb Khaled, Cheb Mami, Cheb Hasni, Cheb Zahouani, Cheb Bilal, and Cheikh Boutaiba Sghir.
Sources and further reading:
Daoudi, B. & Miliani H. L'aventure du Raï
Drewett, M & Cloonan, M. Popular Music Censorship in Africa
Plastino, G. Mediterranean Mosaic: Popular Music and Global Sounds
Schade-Poulsen, M. Men and Popular Music in Algeria: The Social Significance of Raï
Virolle, M. La chanson Raï : De l'Algérie profonde à la scène internationale
September 6th, 2012
We continue our journey through the history of Rai Music. After considering the streams of music from which modern Rai music emerges in a previous episode, we take a brief look at less direct, yet significant musical influences on modern Rai like Andalusian Jewish music and modern French Chansons. The episode also highlights the impact of French colonialism on the Algerian environment in which Rai would eventually develop. Included are excerpts of songs by Cheb Hasni, Cheb Khaled, Reinette L’Oranaise, Edith Piaf, and Raina Rai.
Sources and further reading:
Daoudi, B. & Miliani H. L'aventure du Raï
Drewett, M & Cloonan, M. Popular Music Censorship in Africa
Plastino, G. Mediterranean Mosaic: Popular Music and Global Sounds
Schade-Poulsen, M. Men and Popular Music in Algeria: The Social Significance of Raï
Virolle, M. La chanson Raï : De l'Algérie profonde à la scène internationale
August 31st, 2012
This is the first episode in a multiple-episode series on a musical style from North Africa that came to be a strong player on the World Music scene in the last two decades. It is called Rai. This series will consider the development of Rai music within the complex Algerian cultural and socio-political settings of the twentieth century. Throughout the series, we will listen to short musical excerpts from the repertoire of the major Rai performers. Today, we highlight the birthplace and possible origins of Rai and take a look at some precursors of this genre, including the Bedouin Malhun, the Sheikhat, the Meddahat, and al-Wahrani style. This episode includes excerpts from songs by Cheikh Hamada, Ahmed Wahby, Blaoui Houari, Cheb Khaled, and Chebba Zahouania.
Sources and further reading:
Daoudi, B. & Miliani H. L'aventure du Raï
Drewett, M & Cloonan, M. Popular Music Censorship in Africa
Plastino, G. Mediterranean Mosaic: Popular Music and Global Sounds
Schade-Poulsen, M. Men and Popular Music in Algeria: The Social Significance of Raï
Virolle, M. La chanson Raï : De l'Algérie profonde à la scène internationale
August 20th, 2012
This episode briefly introduces the concept of prophecy, its history in the Near East (including the well-developed tradition of Biblical prophets), and the way the Qur'an positions itself vis-à-vis this history. We also discuss the terms nabi and rasul as well as the prominent figures of Abraham and Moses.
Sources and Recommended Readings:
The Qur'an: a Beginner's Guide by Farid Esack
Major Themes of the Qur'an by Fazlur Rahman
The Koran: a Very Short Introduction by Michael Cook
The Cambridge Companion to the Qur'an by Jane McAuliffe (editor)
The Blackwell Companion to the Qur'an by Christopher Buck (editor)
The Qur'an: a New Translation by Tarif Khalidi
The Qur'an: an Introduction by Abdullah Saeed
The Qur'an in its Historical Setting by Gabriel Said Reynolds (editor)
Approaching the Qur'an: the Early Revelations by Michael Sells
La Pensée Arabe by Mohammed Arkoun
July 26th, 2012
We continue talking about the Qur'an. We take a look at how Professor Mohammed Arkoun defined the Qur'an, at the way that most Muslims have related to the Qur'an, and at what the attributes of God in the Qur'an can tell us about its message.
Sources and Recommended Readings:
The Qur'an: a Beginner's Guide by Farid Esack
Major Themes of the Qur'an by Fazlur Rahman
The Koran: a Very Short Introduction by Michael Cook
The Cambridge Companion to the Qur'an by Jane McAuliffe (editor)
The Blackwell Companion to the Qur'an by Christopher Buck (editor)
The Qur'an: a New Translation by Tarif Khalidi
The Qur'an: an Introduction by Abdullah Saeed
The Qur'an in its Historical Setting by Gabriel Said Reynolds (editor)
Approaching the Qur'an: the Early Revelations by Michael Sells
La Pensée Arabe by Mohammed Arkoun
- Older Posts »
Standard Podcasts [12:00m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download | Embeddable Player | Hits (Loading)
